(More....) W124 content... E300D Estate
Discussion
Right, after a while hunting, I found a clean-ish W124 E300D, with the later multivalve OM606 engine.
After a small road trip with my bro, a quick look and a test drive, it's mine! And how much? A mere £1,350. Bargain.
The not-so-good bits... The radio is w
ked, speakers sound terrible, there's a rattle from the engine bay, no kickdown on the auto box, leaky rear quarter windows, unreliable power door locks, ariel doesn't extend and no rear window washers...
It's going to be booked into the Mercedes specialist Avantgarde at Bristol, and we'll see what comes.
Still, really enjoying it so far!
After a small road trip with my bro, a quick look and a test drive, it's mine! And how much? A mere £1,350. Bargain.
The not-so-good bits... The radio is w
ked, speakers sound terrible, there's a rattle from the engine bay, no kickdown on the auto box, leaky rear quarter windows, unreliable power door locks, ariel doesn't extend and no rear window washers...It's going to be booked into the Mercedes specialist Avantgarde at Bristol, and we'll see what comes.
Still, really enjoying it so far!
These really are the stuff of legend. My Dad ran two, both eccentric in their own way. His first in JRG was retired at a mere 380K mls, the second an 'L' plate runout model slightly less at around the 250K mls mark. There are members of yore here in this little part of PH, who have wisdom beyond my ken, but I fully predict that either a sorted W124, or W123 (in Beirut taxi spec) Portabrace and Pelicases will see out the apocalypse.
When I bought mine in 2011 it had the same faults as yours, apart from the kickdown which was fine. It did need some more paintwork too, the front wings replaced along with a dent in a rear wing and the bumpers needed repairing. The car cost just £800, with FSH and only two owners, father and daughter. At £1350 yours certainly appears to be a bargai.n 
The will be an update shortly;
As it happens, I dropped the car off to Star Motors in Reading after a recommendation from the MB Owners Club.
As it got there, the alternator expired. Bugger.
Anyway, when it's back I'll take some interior photos, and reel off the bits I'd like to have done over the coming months.
Edit;
The loaner C320 isn't horrible either - sounds great for a V6, and I really like the speed limiter function too...
As it happens, I dropped the car off to Star Motors in Reading after a recommendation from the MB Owners Club.
As it got there, the alternator expired. Bugger.
Anyway, when it's back I'll take some interior photos, and reel off the bits I'd like to have done over the coming months.
Edit;
The loaner C320 isn't horrible either - sounds great for a V6, and I really like the speed limiter function too...
It'll be interesting to see a current review of Star: my much-mechanicked E300 went there a couple of times last year, and I had the feeling that they were a little too busy to be as comprehensive as I'd thought they'd be. Competent, though, and the sky-blue early C class courtesy car was pleasant.
r129sl said:
Just don't switch it off or drive it in the dark: electricity not required for these motors. More seriously, a new alternator is sub-£150 and about 20minutes to fit.
Oh yeah, for sure. I'm a mechanical engineer by trade, and I'm very familiar with basic (archaic) systems. Some stuff I've had to maintain / repair / modify in very.... unfavorable areas of the world have basically been 1 wire engines.It's part of the charm of the wagon. At least for me. Basically no complexity for the essential running items.
In other news, it definitely needs a stereo upgrade. What is the general consensus for the Blaupunkt Bremen SQR 46 DAB?
I know it's a bit pricey, but it would fool a casual observer into being period correct, while giving DAB / iPhone / Bluetooth connectivity. There's RGB colour adjustment too, to match the orangey glow from the instruments. And it doesnt obnoxiously glow and flash rainbow colours like a transformer's vibrator.
Any recommendations for speakers? Maybe a slimline all-in-one powered sub (I had one installed in my old Cerbera and it was brilliant). Does having a separate amplifier increase sound quality significantly?
I know it's a bit pricey, but it would fool a casual observer into being period correct, while giving DAB / iPhone / Bluetooth connectivity. There's RGB colour adjustment too, to match the orangey glow from the instruments. And it doesnt obnoxiously glow and flash rainbow colours like a transformer's vibrator.
Any recommendations for speakers? Maybe a slimline all-in-one powered sub (I had one installed in my old Cerbera and it was brilliant). Does having a separate amplifier increase sound quality significantly?
So, after a slightly more lengthy stay at Star Motor Services in Reading, I have the car back.
Loads of little bits to be sorted, plus a failed alternator as I arrived. Probably need a battery shortly, as it ran a bit low while the alternator had failed. Bugger.
A bit of a heavyweight bill. But it sure does look good among newer, bland, faceless cars.
As I was driving back, however, I noticed the temperature gauge heading up a bit further than I'm used to (in cars generally - this one is still quite new to me).
The temperature needle settled about where the white arrow is. Is this usual? I know modern cars have ECU controlled temperature garages which are rock steady because the ECU will allow a range of temperature before it adjusts the needle - this doesn't have that. I guess I'm just asking whether or not I should be concerned.
If not, I'll be getting a new thermostat, radiator waterpump and auxiliary belt, flushing the cooling system properly, and refilling with antifreeze. Is ethylene glycol ok to run in these?
Also, as a cherry on the cake, as I was on the M4 heading home, a golfball sized stone came off an excavator being transported, which duly hit the windscreen forcefully enough to crack it. Double bugger. Is it worth chasing the haulage company for damages, as the excavator should have been cleaned sufficiently in order not to drop big rocks off it, or is it just "one of those things"?
Loads of little bits to be sorted, plus a failed alternator as I arrived. Probably need a battery shortly, as it ran a bit low while the alternator had failed. Bugger.
A bit of a heavyweight bill. But it sure does look good among newer, bland, faceless cars.
As I was driving back, however, I noticed the temperature gauge heading up a bit further than I'm used to (in cars generally - this one is still quite new to me).
The temperature needle settled about where the white arrow is. Is this usual? I know modern cars have ECU controlled temperature garages which are rock steady because the ECU will allow a range of temperature before it adjusts the needle - this doesn't have that. I guess I'm just asking whether or not I should be concerned.
If not, I'll be getting a new thermostat, radiator waterpump and auxiliary belt, flushing the cooling system properly, and refilling with antifreeze. Is ethylene glycol ok to run in these?
Also, as a cherry on the cake, as I was on the M4 heading home, a golfball sized stone came off an excavator being transported, which duly hit the windscreen forcefully enough to crack it. Double bugger. Is it worth chasing the haulage company for damages, as the excavator should have been cleaned sufficiently in order not to drop big rocks off it, or is it just "one of those things"?
Edited by TobyLerone on Friday 21st February 17:27
So, another update. Just some light tinkering really.
I had to pick up a spare alloy (to replace the steely) from the post office. I got a few funny looks, but while the car didn't start, I didn't have much choice!
As the alternator committed suicide a short while ago, it decided to take the battery with it (rather selfishly). As it's been cold, the injured old battery couldn't quite keep up, so I ordered a new one.
The new one arrived, and it's substantially larger. Higher capacity, and physically larger. Cleaned the battery terminals and the earth's on the chassis with some Emery cloth, and a film of Vaseline to help prevent corrosion. Nice.
Bit of a squeeze to get it seated correctly, but it's in nice now.
On to the lights... I got a couple of Osram's Nightbreakers - a H4 for the dip/main and a H3 for the fog.
Loads brighter, even though the picture doesn't really show it.
I decided to check the health of the air filter, and found a stupid mesh glued on top. I had this on my Triumph 1050 Speed Triple air filters too - I used to rip the mesh off, so the engine can breathe easier. It made a large difference to the bike, so we'll see what it does here...
That's all for now. Next will likely be 5 new tyres, and alloy wheel refurbishment, while I keep a close eye on the temperature guage. If it starts creeping up, I might bang in a new temperature sensor and see what happens then. If it's still a bit warm, I'll be ripping out the cooling system... Here's hoping it stays cool!
I had to pick up a spare alloy (to replace the steely) from the post office. I got a few funny looks, but while the car didn't start, I didn't have much choice!
As the alternator committed suicide a short while ago, it decided to take the battery with it (rather selfishly). As it's been cold, the injured old battery couldn't quite keep up, so I ordered a new one.
The new one arrived, and it's substantially larger. Higher capacity, and physically larger. Cleaned the battery terminals and the earth's on the chassis with some Emery cloth, and a film of Vaseline to help prevent corrosion. Nice.
Bit of a squeeze to get it seated correctly, but it's in nice now.
On to the lights... I got a couple of Osram's Nightbreakers - a H4 for the dip/main and a H3 for the fog.
Loads brighter, even though the picture doesn't really show it.
I decided to check the health of the air filter, and found a stupid mesh glued on top. I had this on my Triumph 1050 Speed Triple air filters too - I used to rip the mesh off, so the engine can breathe easier. It made a large difference to the bike, so we'll see what it does here...
That's all for now. Next will likely be 5 new tyres, and alloy wheel refurbishment, while I keep a close eye on the temperature guage. If it starts creeping up, I might bang in a new temperature sensor and see what happens then. If it's still a bit warm, I'll be ripping out the cooling system... Here's hoping it stays cool!
Edited by TobyLerone on Friday 6th March 16:19
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